Portable collapsible ironing board



Jall- 18, 1955 H. B. HYAMS PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 21, 1952 IIlI lllllll m. M m m HERBERT 5. #yA/ws A TToR/v Ks Jan. 18, 1955 H. B. HYAMs 2,699,617

PORTABLE coLLAPsIBLE IRONING BOARD Filed April 21, 1.952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD Herbert B. Hyams, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Atlas Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application April 21, 1952, Serial No. 283,355

1 Claim. (Cl. 38-136) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable collapsible ironing boards of the general type comprising dual ironing board elements having means for pivotally connecting them together whereby, when in operative collapsed condition, one ironing board element is disposed in atwise relation against the other, and when unfolded to operative position, said ironing board elements are spaced apart and disposed in substantially parallel relation and one of said elements provides a supporting base for the other.

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a portable collapsible ironing board comprising dual ironing board elements constructed of sheet metal and each comprising an ironing top or surface having a marginal reinforcing ange, and said elements being of dilferent sizes whereby the smaller element may be nested within the larger element, when the ironing board is collapsed for storage, and whereby the composite ironing board When thus collapsed may readily be carried in a suitcase or stored in a drawer or in some other suitable place.

A further object is to provide a collapsible ironing board of the type disclosed comprising dual ironing board elements of different sizes pivotally connected together by parallel links or frame members having their opposed end portions pivotally connected to the inwardly facing or bottom sides of the ironing board elements in such manner that when the board elements are folded into atwise relation, the smaller board will be nested within the relatively larger board and the parallel connecting links or frame members will be concealed within the smaller board element. p

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a collapsible dual ironing board which may readily be formed of sheet metal to provide a very rugged and substantial structure at exceedingly low cost; in the unique construction of the parallel frame members or links for operatively connecting together the board elements to provide a composite ironing board comprising an ironing board element particularly applicable for ironing the sleeves of garments, and the like, and a relatively larger ironing board element for ironing larger articles; and in the provision of such a device which, when in collapsed or folded condition, is very compact whereby it may readily be stored in a drawer when not in use, and which is devoid of sharp edges or corners which damage fabrics and garments with which the board may come in Contact when in use, or when stored away; and in the provision of such a device which is very simple and inexpensive in construction, is light in weight, and is self-locking when unfolded into operative position.

These and other objects of the `invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claim which follows.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the novel ironing board herein disclosed showing it in one of its operative positions;

Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1, showing the rela- 2,699,617 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 ICC tively larger ironing board element functioning as a supporting base for the smaller ironing board element;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view showing the ironing board inverted from the position shown in Figure l, whereby the relatively smaller ironing board element functions as a supporting base for the relatively larger ironing board element;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing the construction and mounting of the parallel frame members or links for pivotally connecting together the two ironing board elements;

Figure 6 is a top view similar to Figure 2, but showing the relatively smaller ironing board element nested within the relatively larger board element;

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 7--7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Figure 5; and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the composite board in collapsed condition, showing the relatively smaller board element nested and substantially confined within the boundaries of the relatively larger ironing board element.

The novel collapsible ironing board herein disclosed is shown comprising two ironing board elements, generally designated by the numerals 2 and 3, which are formed from sheet metal to facilitate manufacture and to provide a rugged structure having great strength with a minimum of weight. Ironing board element 2 is relatively smaller in size than element 3, whereby it may be nested within element 3, as clearly illustrated in Figure 9, when the device is collapsed for storage.

Ironing board element 2 is shown provided with an annular reinforcing ilange 4 having a rolled edge, as indicated at 5 in Figure 5, for reinforcing the edge of the flange and whereby a smooth surface is: presented to the users fingers, when handling the board, and to fabrics and other materials with which the device may come in contact when the board is in use. The relatively larger ironing board element 3 is provided with a similar flange 6 which also has its edge rolled over as indicated at 7.

Means are provided for pivotally connecting together the board elements 2 and 3 whereby they may be collapsed as shown in Figure 9 with the relatively smaller board element 2 nested within the relatively larger board element 3. To thus pivotally connect together the board elements,

spaced frame members 8 and 9 are provided which preferably are constructed of sheet metal and are formed with opposed side flanges 10 having their opposite ends apertured to receive pivot pins 11 and 12. The pivot pins are received in apertures provided in inwardly extending lugs 13 and 14 formed in plate elements 15 and 16 iixedly secured respectively to the board elements 2 and 3 by such means as spot welding, indicated at 17 in Figures 6 and 8, to strengthen said elements.

The central portions of the frame members 8 and 9 and also the plate elements 15 and 16 are preferably cut away as illustrated in the application drawings to lighten the structure as will be understood. The reinforcing plate element 15 is provided with longitudinally extending ribs 20, and plate element 16 is shown provided with similar transversely disposed strengthening ribs 18, as shown in Figures 6 and 8 respectively.

To retain the ironing board elements in their unfolded operative positions, as illustrated in Figures l, 4, 5 and 7, the upper ends of the frame members 8 and 9, when viewed as shown in Figure 5, are provided with abutments 19 and 21, respectively, which are adapted to engage the reinforcing plate element 15, when the board elements are unfolded, as shown in full lines on Figure 7. By referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the upper ends of the frame members 8 and 9 have passed over the centers of the lower pivots 12, whereby the ironing board elements are locked in operative position and are not likely to collapse when pressure is applied to the upper element 2, as when ironing a. sleeve or other garment or portions thereof.

The abutments 19 and 21 on the frame members 8 and 9, respectively, serve in a similar capacity when the ironing board is inverted, -as illustrated Figure 4. When so positioned, the relatively smaller ironing board element 2 serves as a supporting base for the larger ironing board element,y

Thejnovel collapsible ironing board herein disclosedportion thereof for ironing, as will readily be understood.

The relatively larger ironing board element 3 providesa relatively greateriironing surface, and has ,been found extremely practical for ironing small articles of clothing, andthe like. kitchen table, or other suitable support, when unfolded foruse, asillustrated in Figures l and 4.

Whenfthe ironing board is no longer to be used, it may be quickly folded to the position shown in Figure 9, wherein it will be noted that the relatively smaller board is nested within the relatively larger board and the frame members 8 and 9 are ,concealed within the smaller board element 2. When the board is thus collapsed, it may readily bestored in a drawer or in ay suitcase, or other small storage space. lt is extremely strong and very light in weight whereby it may readily be yhandled in the operationL of `setting it up for use, or folding it together for storage. It will also be noted that by forming the iron4 ingy board elements 2 and 3 of sheet metal and rolling the edges. thereof, as indicated at 5 and 7 in Figure 5, the apparatuslmay readily and conveniently he grasped by the hands and manipulated to its unfolded or folded positions without injuring the hands, and without requiring the use of tools or other instruments, as is often necessary whenusing other ironing boards of this general type now available on the market,

What I claim is:

In :ay collapsible ironing board of the class described, dual Opposed ironing board elements formed of sheet metal and each having its outwardly disposed sideV forming-anironing surface, each ironing board element having a peripheral flange throughout and extending laterally fromther median plane thereof in a direction towards the other of said ironing board elements, one of said ironing boardy elements being relatively larger than the other of said elements and having its peripheral flange extending outwardly from the median plane thereof a distance at least equalto the overall thickness of said smaller ironing board element, spaced parallel connecting members pivoted to the inwardly facing surfaces of said ironing board The device may readily b'e placed upon a1 elements for retaining said elements in operative relation, abutment means for said connecting members to maintain said board in operating position, one of said connecting members having one end pivoted to the intermediate portion of the inner side surface of said larger ironing board element and having its Opposite end similarly pivoted to the inner sidesurface of said smaller ironing board element at a point intermediately of its ends, the other of said 4connecting members being pivotally secured to thelower face of said smaller ironing board at a point thereon adjacent the end thereof and to the larger ironing board element at a point spaced inwardly from one end of said larger ironing boardelement a distance at least equal to or slightly greater than the overall length of said second mentioned connecting member to permit said connecting member to fold flatly against the inner surface of said ironing board element, said second mentioned connecting member being positioned to extend between thepivotalconnection thereof to said larger ironing board and the end of said larger ironing board adjacent said last named connection when said second mentioned connecting member is in its folded position, and the spacing between the pivotal connections of said connecting members and the lironing board elements, longitudinally of thecornposite board, being such as to permit said connecting members to fold flatly against said ironing board elements in end to end relation, when the composite ironing board is collapsed, and whereby said smaller ironing board element is completely nested within the contines of said larger ironing board element with its peripheral edge being seated against the inwardly facing surface of said larger ironing board element, and said connecting members being completely concealed between said ironing board elements within the collapsed board, the overall thickness of the ironing board when collapsed beingv substantially equal to the overall thickness of said larger lronmg board element.

References Cited in the le of this patent- UNITED. STATES 'PATENTSl HM a i mi JJ;- 

